China has developed its first exoskeleton robot system tailored specifically for complex underground mine environments, marking a major advancement in “human-machine collaborative” rescue technology.
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According to a statement released Thursday by China Energy Investment Corporation (CHN Energy), the system is currently undergoing industrial testing and has completed three rounds of practical validation with a national mine rescue team. Officials said the robot demonstrated strong adaptability and operational stability in challenging underground conditions.
The project was launched in July 2025 by Shendong Coal Group, a subsidiary of CHN Energy, in partnership with the China Coal Research Institute. It aims to address long-standing challenges in mine disaster response, including limited equipment intelligence and restricted individual rescue capacity.
The exoskeleton features an innovative “rigid-flexible coupling” structural design that integrates upper and lower limb power-assist modules with an embedded multi-sensor system and an artificial intelligence controller. The configuration allows efficient human-machine coordination during underground rescue missions.
Key technical capabilities include more than six hours of continuous operation, movement recognition accuracy exceeding 95 percent, and a maximum load capacity of 80 kilograms for carrying and dragging operations. CHN Energy said the system reduces human metabolic energy consumption by around 20 percent, significantly improving the endurance of rescue workers.
In addition to emergency response scenarios, the exoskeleton is expected to support high-intensity mining tasks such as material transport and equipment installation.
Officials described the development as a milestone in strengthening China’s mine safety technology framework and modernizing its emergency rescue capabilities within the energy sector.
